The seminar was a huge success in terms of attendance and the number of experts that it attracted from across the Kingdom. Held at Jeddah's Marriot Hall, the seminar deliberated on almost all aspects of the environment. It specifically called on the engineering community to evolve, adapt and practice green engineering.

Among the list of speakers were two senior officials from PME, two professors from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dahran, and two executives from the private sector.

In his keynote address, Dr. Ahsanullah Khan, senior environmental advisor at PME, exhorted the engineering community to develop green technologies to minimize pollution control. Engineers should take the initiative of designing, developing and adopting engineering skills to reduce the consumption of resources by running them on alternate fuels and increasing the system efficiently.

He said that the science and engineering community should always aim to achieve sustainable development by creating conditions for a decent, healthy and secure life to all by meeting the growing demand for food, fresh water, fiber and energy while protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.

Dr. Abdul Basith Sairafi, deputy assistant for sustainable development at PME, emphasized the need to develop eco-friendly technology and the use of alternate energy sources.

"The progress of a nation should be proportionate with ecological balance. Alternate technology and energy sources should be adopted by the developing countries going through economic viability," he said.

Ashish Misra, business development manager at YBA Kanoo, focused on the effects of climate change on earth with particular emphasis on our role as individuals and society.

Dr. Shafiqur Rehman from KFUPM stressed the need for more usage of photovoltaic cells as an alternate energy source. Highlighting the favorable condition for tapping solar energy with an abundance of sunlight in the Kingdom, he talked of the possibility of the Kingdom exporting electricity to neighboring countries in the near future.

Dr. S.U. Rehman, also from KFUPM, explained the advantages of fuel cells. He said that in a span of a few years scientific research, inventions and discoveries regarding upgrading and innovations of the fuel cell will project it as an alternate source of fuel.

Dr. Wael Doukmark, country manager at Data Consult, explained how building automation system can reduce the usage of power and also the advantages of linking the information technology network, maintenance, security, facility, energy and building management together in bringing the maintenance cost in malls, high rise building and individual apartments.

Dr. Faiz Al-Abedeen, board member of the Yanbu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, invited Indian industrialists and entrepreneurs to invest in factories in the Yanbu region and assured all possible help from the chamber.

IYWA President Anees Hyder Zaidi said the main objective of the seminar was to create awareness among the Indian science and engineering community living in the Kingdom. Vice Patron Fuzail Ahmed talked about the various welfare activities taken up by IYWA. While IYWA's Chief Coordinator Muzzammil Hussain welcomed the guests. The successful program ended on Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki's vote of thanks by and an "eco-friendly dinner."